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JUL 27 2009
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ISKOOLING, RANDOM RESEARCHES

JUVENILE DELINQUENCY ITS EFFECTS AND HOW TO

SOLVE IT
A Problem Solution essay with regards to Juvenile Delinquency
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Juvenile Delinquency its effects and how to solve it
We generally see criminals as gruesome adults, but the increasing numbers of minors getting involved in this kind of
wrongdoings can be considered a disturbing matter that the government has to take seriously. Misguided and problematic,
these minors lurk in the darkest streets to carry out their unlawful plans. Often associated with gangs, they actually provide
inconvenient way of living in the community. Conversely, the community they live in unknowingly influenced them to be these
so called Juvenile Delinquents.
The term juvenile delinquency refers to the criminal acts performed by juveniles or the youths, thus calling them juvenile
delinquents. It is also the legal term for criminal behavior carried out by minors recognized for having problematic behavior.
Juvenile Delinquency can actually be traced in the early times, where governments all over the world have these poor laws
that gave the youth much freedom, while some began as a form of youth rebellion. It was just then that authorities became
aware and attended to this issue.
Most of the time, felonious activities are usually done in a group setting, acquiring help from their own gangs or tribes. In the
country, gangs would do illicit acts that would make their group famous. An example of it is the gang wars or a riot, usually
done at late night, two or more groups will fight each other to see whos the superior gang. They throw rocks or bottles at
their rivals; while some use deadly weapons like knives and ice picks for the sake of hurting. These riots surely disturb the
whole neighborhood in which the fight is occurring. It is even more dangerous for civilian people who just happened to be
around at that place. The whole community would then be disturbed for the people there are scared going out at night. A
gang called TBS made its name infamous by causing much trouble in major cities and towns over the country.
Not just in riots these juvenile delinquents are known for. Most of them had actually committed crimes that an adult would do.
According to UNICEF, an average of 10, 500 minors are being arrested and detained every year about 28 children every
day, or more than one child every hour. Report on 2003 stated that seven children were in Death Row, and 200 children in

the Medium Security Unit of the National Bilibid Prisons. It is a sad fact juveniles are arrested for using or pushing drugs
which then breeds to other forms of crimes such as rape, murder, and homicide. It is even more alarming to know that
poverty has driven most of the minors detained to commit crime. At the Molave Youth Home in Quezon City 74 children of
the 159 detainees are facing trial for crimes against poverty (39 accused of theft and 34 of robbery). Records dating back to
1990 collected by the Quezon City government reveal expose that poverty is the common origin of a great majority of
children in jail. Another data show that 7 in every 10 children detained at the Molave Youth Home in 2002 belonged to
families having a monthly income of 2,000-4,000 pesos.
We might say that this issue is not bigger than the economic crisis we are experiencing right now, but to think that these
delinquents are just disoriented youths, its actually unfair. A youth, for the sake of being a part of something that could
protect him will join a gang and throw chaos to the society that rejects him; a youth, who just wants to prove something will
be a rebel to his family; a youth, who just wants to escape his miserable life will do foolish crimes; an innocent youth yet
dangerous; a naive youth yet matured; a youth supposed to study at school, expected to be the next leader, an asset turned
liability of our societyit is unfair.
This calls for the help of the whole society to be in charge for the guidance of these future generations. A range of
community based schemes for the diversion of children away from committing crimes can be conducted. This includes
community care, guidance, counseling foster care and training, social activities, and community development. These are just
few of the possible ways of helping the juveniles. Simple but effective!
The government might also want to amend the law with regards to Comprehensive Juvenile Justice. It must raise the age of
criminal responsibility from nine to twelve years old, which means that a child 12 years old or under at the time of his offense
shall be exempt from criminal liability. With this, there will be more children that can undergo into guidance and counseling
while also receiving care and protection. It must also prohibit the detention of children with adults unless a family member to
prevent physical, sexual, and psychological harm. Local government units must also help in developing and implementing
campaigns for delinquency prevention which includes counseling of families so that parent will be aware on how their
children grow and develop. Youth on the other hand must also know their responsibilities as citizens of the country. This is
where education takes place. Education aids the youth in developing all the aspects in their lives and with proper education,
they will be more likely to be productive members of the society.
Poverty, which is considered to be the roots of all problems and issues in the country, may not be eradicated easily. So, I can
say that, when there is poverty, there would still be juvenile delinquents prowling all over the city. The least we can do is to
lessen their increasing population by, of course, implementing those schemes.
It does take a village to raise a child. Juvenile Delinquents are misled youths whom has made wrong choices in their lives
which was influenced by the society itself, and the only way to reverse it is to raise these youths and model them into better
persons. This is when we can see their true potentials.